When studying the Bible or a topic, such as baptism, what is the best way? Is it with a particular Bible version, such as the King James, New King James, or the New International Version, with no commentary and a concordance as a Bible aid? My church has recently gone through an exercise like that. Also, in studying with someone, what is the best approach if they are members of a denominational church?<\/p>\n\t
I don’t believe there is a single right answer to this question. The best way to study is the way that gets a person closer to the truth presented in the Bible. Different students will need different approaches to be able to grasp the concepts found in the pages of the Bible. Different teachers will use methods that they find transfers ideas well for them.<\/p>\n
For example, my favorite method for studying a topic is to write it out at the top of a blank piece of paper. I then jot down some verses that I think might be useful in understanding the topic. Besides each verse, I write a short note about how this verse addresses the topic. Next, I go back to each verse and use a cross-reference to find related verses. Those that are about the topic I’m studying is added to the list along with a note. I also cross-reference the new verses until the links stray too far from my topic. I might also check commentaries, dictionaries, or concordances to find more verses to add to my list. When I eventually get done I review all the verses and group them by related subtopics. I then ask myself, “How can I present these passages in a way to clearly teach what God has said on this topic?” I then outline the lesson I want to present.<\/p>\n
When dealing with someone unfamiliar with true Christianity, I have a set of three lessons that I have used numerous times over the years. It is just a list of verses with several questions after each verse that make sure the person actually understood what they read. I ask the person I’m studying with to read the passage out-loud from his Bible. I listen for any words they might stumble over. For those words, I make sure they understand what is being said. Then we go over the questions. If they get an answer wrong, I’ll redirect them back to the passage they just read. The list of verses I used is one that I received from another preacher long ago, though I modified it a bit to suit what I know. It starts out on establishing the relationship between the Old and New Testament; the need for biblical authority; the need for faith, love, obedience, confession, and baptism to be saved; how to worship God in a way that pleases Him; and the urgency of being saved. I’m constantly tweaking the verses based on each class that I have. I find it works well because the person is reading his Bible for himself and if he has disagreements it is between himself and God. I’m just there to help them get a better grasp of what they are reading for themselves.<\/p>\n
I don’t care too much which translation a person uses, so long as it is a translation and not a paraphrase. I try to avoid the New International Version because I end up having to explain things like why\u00a0Mark 16:16\u00a0is marked as not in some manuscripts and why they put\u00a0Acts 8:37\u00a0into the footnotes. But if this is the only version they have, then that is what we use.<\/p>\n
“Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness<\/em>” (II Timothy 2:14-16).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: When studying the Bible or a topic, such as baptism, what is the best way? Is it with a particular Bible version, such as the King James, New King James, or the New International Version, with no commentary and a concordance as a Bible aid? My church has recently gone through an exercise like…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[718,558],"class_list":["post-5770","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-reference-works","tag-study"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":20053,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/are-you-mormon-what-are-your-beliefs\/","url_meta":{"origin":5770,"position":0},"title":"Are you Mormon? What are your beliefs?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 30, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I happened to stumble upon your church when I googled \"the most accurate version of the Bible.\" I have been currently attended a Baptist church, which solely uses the King James Version. I am really in search of the truth on my Christian journey. I am not one who\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":16350,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-is-the-best-study-bible\/","url_meta":{"origin":5770,"position":1},"title":"What is the best study Bible?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 12, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: What Bible is the best to study? Several publishers now teach that baptism is not required, such as the Life Application Bible, and several teach the 1000 year war. How can I know which publishing house and what Bible are the best for me? Answer: First, pick a Bible\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":42079,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/ive-listened-to-the-entire-bible-during-my-day\/","url_meta":{"origin":5770,"position":2},"title":"I’ve listened to the entire Bible during my day","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 5, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I read your article on \u00a0Reading the Bible Cover to Cover. Permit me to share that I love listening to my audio Bible and have covered 50 to 100 chapters a day. I have since gone through the Good Book eleven times. 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Answer: The best way for your friend to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":26125,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/im-impressed-by-your-home-page\/","url_meta":{"origin":5770,"position":4},"title":"I’m impressed by your home page","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 17, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I came across\u00a0your home page\u00a0and took the time to read it. Well, I was impressed with what you had to say and just want to lift you up in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. 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